Engineering Mathematics I

Function

Rakesh Prasad Badoni, Ph.D.

Xavier School of Computer Science and Engineering
Xavier University Bhubaneswar
Odisha − 752050, India
 Function(s)
 A function is a set of ordered pairs in which no two ordered
pairs that have the same first component have different second
components.
 Given any x, there is only one y that can be paired with that x.
 In these diagrams, set A is the domain of the function and set B
is the range of the function.
One-to-One function: A function f from A to B is called one-to-
one (or 1 − 1) if whenever f(a) = f(b) then a = b. No element of
B is the image of more than one element in A.
 In a one-to-one function, given any y value, there is only one x
that can be paired with the given y. Such functions are also
referred to as Injective.
 Function (cont.…)
 When working on the coordinate plane, a function is a one-to-one when it
will pass the vertical line test (to make it a function) and also a horizontal
line test (to make it one-to-one).
 When working in the coordinate plane, the sets A (the domain) and B (the
range) will most often both become the Real Numbers, stated as f: ℝ → ℝ.
Geometrically: For a function f to be Function f: One-to-One
one-to-one, each horizontal line should Each y value that is used,
not contain more than on point of f. is used only once.

Example) Is f(x) = x³ a one-to-one function where

f: ℝ → ℝ.
This cubic function is indeed a “function” as it
passes the vertical line test.
In addition, this function possesses the property
that each x-value has one unique y-value that is not Function g: NOT One-to-One
used by any other x-element. This characteristic is The y − value of 4 is used
referred to as being a 1 − 1 function. more than once.
 Function (cont.…)
Example) Is g(x) = |x − 2| a one-to-one function where g: ℝ → ℝ?
 This absolute value function passes the vertical line test to be a
function.
 In addition, this function has y-values that are paired with more than
one x-value, such as (4,2) and (0,2). This function is not one-to-one.
 This function passes a vertical line test (to be a function) but not a
horizontal line test (for on-to-one function).

Problem) Is g(x) = |x − 2| a one-to-one function where g: ℝ → [0, ∞)?

 This question is changing the RANGE, not the DOMAIN.
 It may be possible to adjust a function in some manner so that the function becomes a one-
to-one function.
 In this case, with set B (the range set) redefined to be [0, ∞), function g(x) will still be NOT
one-to-one since we still have (0,2) and (4,2).
 Function (cont.…)
Onto function: A function f from A to B is called onto if for all b in B there is an a in A such
that whenever f a = b. All elements in B are used.
 In an onto function, all possible y − values are used. Such functions are also referred to as
surjective.

Function f: Onto (as all Function f: NOT Onto (as

elements in B are used). 6 in B is not used).
Not one-to-one. It is one-to-one.

 To determine if a function is onto, you need to know information about both set A and set B.
 Function (cont.…)
Geometrically: For a function to be onto, each horizontal line
contains at least one point of g (i.e., the function).
Example) Is g(x) = x² − 2 an onto function where g: ℝ → ℝ?
 This function (a parabola) is NOT ONTO.
 Values less than −2 on the y-axis are never used. Since only
certain y-values belonging to the set of ALL Real numbers are
used, we see that not ALL possible y-values are used (such as,
− 3, −4, …).
 In addition, this parabola also has y-values that are paired
with more than one x-value, such as (3, 7) and (−3, 7) (i.e.,
horizontal line test!).
 This function will not be one-to-one.
 Function (cont.…)
Example) Is g(x) = x² − 2 an onto function where g: ℝ → [−2, ∞)?
 If set B (the range) is redefined to [−2, ∞), ALL the possible y-values are now used, and
function g(x) (under this conditions) is ONTO.
Note: This function is still NOT one-to-one.
 To make this function both onto and one-to-one, we would also need to restrict A, the domain.
Question) What change(s) we should make in the domain of above example to make it one-to-one.
 What about g: [0, ∞) → [−2, ∞)?
One-to-one correspondence (or both one-to-one and onto functions): A function f from A (the
domain) to B (the range) is BOTH one-to-one and onto when no element of B is the image of more
than one element in A, AND all elements in B are used (i.e., all the elements of B has a pre-image).
 to as Bijective. Functions which are both, one-to-one (Injective) and onto (Surjective), are
referred
 Function (cont.…)
Question) Determine whether the following function is one-to-one:
f = {(1,2), (3,4), (5,6), (8,6), (10, −1)}
Question) Prove that the function f(n) = n2 is one-to-one.
Proof) Aim: To prove that whenever f(m) = f(n) ⟹ m = n.
Function f: BOTH One-to-one and Onto
Each used element of B is used only once Assume that f(m) = f(n) for two numbers m, n ∈ ℕ. Therefore,
f x1 = f x2 ⇒ x1 = x2
All elements in B are used
m2 = n2 ⟹ m = ±n
∀y ∈ B ∃x ∈ A: f x = y Next, splitting cases on n, we have
For n ≠ 0, −n ∉ ℕ, therefore m = n for this case.
For n = 0, we have m = n = 0. Therefore, it follows that m = n
for both cases.

Function f: NOT BOTH (One-to-one but NOT Onto)

Each used element of B is used only once
There exists some elements of B, which are not used
Example: 6 ∈ B is not used, as ∄x ∈ A: f x = 6
 Function (cont.…)
Classify the following functions fj : ℕ → ℕ between natural numbers as one-to-one and onto.

𝐟𝐟𝐣𝐣 One-to-One? Onto?

f1 n = n2 Yes No
f2 n = n + 3 Yes No
f3 n = ⌊ n⌋ No Yes
n − 1, n is odd Yes Yes
f4 n = �
n + 1, n is even

 f1 is not onto because it does not have any element n such that f1 n = 3.
 f2 is not onto because there exists no element n such that f2 (n) = 1.
 f3 is not one-to-one since f3 (2) = f3 (1) = 1.